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Wake up! It's World Sleep Day

Wake up! It's World Sleep Day

SYRACUSE, N.Y.-- Antonio Culebras, M.D., neurology consultant for the Upstate Sleep Center, has been named co-chair of the eighth annual World Sleep Day, hosted on Friday, March 13, 2015. The international event is organized by the World Sleep Day Committee of the World Association of Sleep Medicine (WASM), and aims to raise awareness of sleep disorders and highlight the burden that they place on society. This year’s theme is “When sleep sound, health and happiness abound.”

According to WASM, only one-third of the global population achieves sound sleep, which centers on three elements of sleep quality: duration, continuity and depth.

“Sound sleep refers to seamless, satisfying, refreshing sleep,” said Culebras. “It can be achieved, in the absence of medical disorders, by following World Sleep Day’s 10 Commandments.”

The ‘10 Commandments’ of sleep proclaimed by World Sleep Day include, fix a bedtime and awakening time; do not exceed 45 minutes of daytime sleep if in the habit of napping; avoid excessive alcohol ingestion four hours before bedtime and do not smoke; avoid caffeine six hours before bedtime; avoid heavy, spicy or sugary foods four hours before bedtime; exercise regularly-but not right before bed; use comfortable bedding; find a comfortable temperature setting for sleeping and keep the room well ventilated; block out all distracting noises and eliminate as much light as possible; reserve the bed for sleep-do not use the bedroom as an office, workroom or recreation room.

The violation of these commandments can cause poor quality of nocturnal sleep, short duration of sleep and serious sleep deprivation in adults, according to WASM.

“The average number of hours of sleep each night is eight, but the seven to nine hour range is acceptable,” said Culebras. “The number of hours of sleep achieved each night should be as many as are needed to be satisfied.”

According to WASM, the lack of sleep or poor quality sleep significantly impacts health in the long and short term. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that approximately 70 million Americans suffer from chronic sleep problems.

At the Upstate Sleep Center, sleep disorders are diagnosed and treated for both children and adults. Each year, the center’s team diagnoses and treats thousands of patients with sleep apnea, insomnia, narcolepsy and other sleep-related conditions.

In an effort to accurately diagnose these disorders, sleep is monitored overnight to identify breathing abnormalities and other abnormal events. The data from the tests is reviewed and interpreted at the center by the staff physicians and a report is sent to the ordering physician with recommendations for treatment and follow-up. Treatment may include lifestyle changes, devices to maintain uninterrupted breathing or medications.

Sleep medicine-focused diagnoses and treatment for sleep disorders and daytime alertness are offered to pediatric and adult patients at the center. Its staff includes professionals with expertise in sleep medicine, neurology,  pediatrics, pulmonology, respiratory therapy and neurodiagnostics.

Fully accredited by the American Academy of Sleep Medicine for more than 25 years, the center is located at Medical Center West in Camillus. The center’s sleep test rooms offer private restrooms and climate control in an effort to make the rooms as comfortable and convenient as possible. In addition, a number of the rooms feature private shower facilities.

In addition to his role at the Upstate Sleep Center, Culebras is on the Upstate Medical University faculty and a neurologist with Upstate’s Comprehensive Stroke Center.

 

Caption: Antonio Culebras, MD, neurology consultant for the Upstate Sleep Center, has been named co-chair of the eighth annual World Sleep Day.

 

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